More People Dying From COVID-19 In Nursing Homes Than Anywhere Across Commonwealth

Matt Petrillo reports.

TOWNSHIP CLEVE BRYAN FOR CBS-3"EYEWITNESS NEWS".CLEVE, THANKS.IN PENNSYLVANIA, MOREPEOPLE ARE DYING FROM COVID-19IN NURSING HOMES THEN ANYWHEREELSE ACROSS THE COMMONWEALTH.THE WHITE HOUSE ISRECOMMENDING WIDESPREADTESTING OF NURSING HOME ANDSTAFF WITHIN 14 DAYS.AND MATT PETRILLO REPORTSTHERE IS SUPPORT HERE LOCALLYFOR THIS PLAN.REPORTER: 2400, THAT ISABOUT HOW MANY PEOPLE DIED INNURSING HOMES, IN PENNSYLVANIAALONE DUE TO COVID-19, AND NOWSOME ARE DEMANDING ACTION.YOU HAVE BEEN TAKEN TO THEHOSPITAL.REPORTER: CARLA LEE WASVISITING HER FATHER THROUGH AWINDOW AT A NURSING HOME INLANSDALE CALLED THE GWYNEDDHEALTH CARE AND REHABILITATIONCENTER WHEN SHE NOTICED HERDAD LOOKED SICK.SHE WANTED HIM TESTED.THE CAME OUT COVID-19, THATHE WAS POSITIVE.REPORTER: HER DAD'S DOINGBETTER NOW BUT NOT EVERYONE ISSO LUCKY.PENNSYLVANIA HEALTH OFFICIALSSAY THAT COVID-19 DEATHS INNURSING HOMES MAKE UP NEARLY70 PERCENT OF ALL COVIDDEATHS, ACROSS THECOMMONWEALTH.IT DOES FEEL LIKE A DEATHTRAP, ANYPLACE WHERE WE HAVEPEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THAT CLOSETO ONE ANOTHER WE'RE GOING TOHAVE PROBLEMS WITH INFECTIONCONTROL.REPORTER: MARYLAND AND WESTVIRGINIA, ARE JUST SOMESTATES, THAT RECENTLY ROLLEDOUT PLANS, TO TEST EVERYONE,INSIDE OF THE NURSING HOMES,BECAUSE OF A HIGH NUMBER OFTHE RESIDENTS LOSING THEIRLIVES.NOW, THERE IS A GROWING PUSHFOR THAT TO HAPPEN HERE INPENNSYLVANIA.WHY WOULD IT BE SODIFFICULT TO INJECT INTO THECONVERSATION WITH THE PEOPLETHAT ARE MOST VULNERABLE.REPORTER: PENNSYLVANIASENATE HELD A HEARING LASTWEEK, ASKING WHY TESTING ISALSO NOT ROUTINE IN THECOMMONWEALTH'S NURSING HOMES.HEALTH SECRETARY DOCTOR RACHELLEVINE SAYS ONLY THOSE SHOWINGSYMPTOMS ARE GETTING TESTINGBUT THAT COULD CHANGE.WE WILL TALK ABOUT IT.WE HAVE TO TALK ABOUT ITBEFORE WE CAN DO IT.REPORTER: ON MONDAY THEWHITE HOUSE ANNOUNCED IT WANTSTO SEE ACTION SO IT IS URGINGTO HAVE A MILLION TESTS DONEIN NURSING HOMES ACROSS THE